Mercedes-benz Ml Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Ml car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Ml reliable? We analysed 1,172,506 real MOT tests across 81,226 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Ml? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Ml is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Ml.
Mercedes-benz Ml Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Ml. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Ml MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Ml to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Ml Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz Ml fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mercedes-benz Ml Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Ml owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Ml MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Ml year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 83 | 80.7% | 40,259 | 66,345 | 98,020 |
| 2015 | 31,567 | 86.8% | 38,084 | 55,657 | 77,592 |
| 2014 | 44,285 | 86.0% | 41,767 | 61,575 | 85,256 |
| 2013 | 54,643 | 86.3% | 45,195 | 67,494 | 93,094 |
| 2012 | 33,577 | 84.5% | 46,905 | 69,892 | 95,650 |
| 2011 | 45,660 | 81.0% | 51,292 | 75,716 | 102,116 |
| 2010 | 53,826 | 78.9% | 53,842 | 79,868 | 107,326 |
| 2009 | 47,288 | 78.2% | 54,431 | 81,766 | 110,274 |
| 2008 | 62,930 | 78.4% | 57,174 | 86,046 | 115,389 |
| 2007 | 72,859 | 78.6% | 58,692 | 88,126 | 118,982 |
| 2006 | 80,512 | 77.9% | 58,182 | 87,958 | 118,889 |
| 2005 | 57,173 | 71.1% | 58,944 | 88,840 | 119,837 |
| 2004 | 103,125 | 69.0% | 61,852 | 91,237 | 122,114 |
| 2003 | 108,350 | 69.0% | 63,150 | 92,120 | 122,098 |
| 2002 | 122,684 | 70.6% | 67,333 | 94,474 | 122,855 |
| 2001 | 96,411 | 69.6% | 74,542 | 100,132 | 127,991 |
| 2000 | 95,347 | 68.8% | 77,778 | 101,610 | 128,222 |
| 1999 | 51,946 | 69.0% | 80,876 | 103,243 | 128,050 |
| 1998 | 8,042 | 66.9% | 84,120 | 104,424 | 127,340 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Ml Last?
Based on 81,226 Mercedes-benz Ml vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Ml Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Ml MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Ml
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.8% MOT pass rate from 31,567 tests
66.9% MOT pass rate from 8,042 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Ml is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.8% across 31,567 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mercedes-benz Ml Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Ml THIS CAR | 74.7% | 1,172,506 | 87,776 mi | 28 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz C | 77.6% | 8,031,355 | 77,082 mi | 32 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz E | 79.4% | 4,722,746 | 83,960 mi | 33 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz A-class | 77.6% | 4,204,702 | 57,023 mi | 28 yrs |
| Vauxhall Tigra | 67.3% | 654,705 | 63,269 mi | 31 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Ml trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Ml you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz MlShould you buy a used Mercedes-benz Ml?
The Mercedes-benz Ml has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.7% across 1,172,506 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz Ml are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (27,881 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (27,032), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (22,074). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Mercedes-benz Ml owner drives around 6,943 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz Ml models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.